Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrated by British troops deployed around the world

Millions of viewers across the UK would have seen the significant involvement of British Army personnel playing their part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. 

But the length and breadth of celebrations extended way beyond UK boundaries. 

It was a truly unique event and one our soldiers on deployment across the world took pride in marking.

Troops from 21 Engineer Regiment on Operation TOSCA, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, held a special ceremony with the British High Commissioner presenting Platinum Jubilee medals to deployed servicemen and women, which was followed by a street party for more than 200 personnel and their families.

21 Engineer Regiment are specialist combat engineers who provide light-role support to ground forces and is made up of three squadrons based in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

It was an honour for me to present Platinum Jubilee medals on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen British Ambassador to Poland, Anna Clunes

In Poland and Estonia, those on Operation CABRIT enjoyed a British-style afternoon tea with 150 personnel from Black Dragoon Troop, the Royal Dragoon Guards, presented with their medals by the British Ambassador to Poland, Anna Clunes.

She said: "It was an honour for me to visit the UK element of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup and the co-located Royal Engineers in order to award medals on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen on the special occasion of Her Platinum Jubilee.

"Both the Royal Dragoon Guards and Royal Engineers are fully integrated with their Polish partners and wider NATO allies and is a great example of unity."      

Themed street parties also took place in the Estonian cities of Tartu and Narva with 40 British Army personnel, currently deployed as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup, enjoying celebrating with the local communities there.

Around 150 Engineers from 29 Field Squadron, 21 Engineer Regiment, deployed in Poland on Operation ROCKSTAFF, received their Platinum Jubilee medals.

The engineers are currently providing specialist construction and trade skills support to the Polish Armed Forces along its border with Belarus, as part of a bilateral agreement with the Polish government.

2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment are currently in Norway and taking part in Exercise THUNDERBOLT, also marked the 70th anniversary with a medal presentation and dinner in Setermoen.

Based in Rutland when back home in the UK, the Poachers are taking part in a combined-arms exercise designed to test and enhance combat capabilities among European partners and allies.

C (Northamptonshire) Company have deployed to The Allied Training Centre in northern Norway that will see them having to move, fight and operate effectively in the region.

Kitted out in Platinum Jubilee t-shirts, soldiers from 83 Expeditionary Group, deployed on Operation SHADER in Iraq, completed a 5km run around their air base, followed by a street party and a formal royal toast address to Her Majesty The Queen on celebrating the historic milestone.

Land forces are deployed as part of the NATO mission to Iraq, providing specialist training and support to Iraqi Security Services and the Combined Joint Task Force.

In Nigeria as part of Operation TURUS, troops marked the occasion with a street party in a local village, near Abuja, including afternoon tea and classic British snacks, with Platinum Jubilee bunting and decorations in full order.

British Army personnel have been deployed on Operation TURUS since 2015 as part of the UK’s support to train the operational capability and capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces to counter violent extremist activity.